I have devoted many a blog post to the all-too-short-lived series Parenthood on NBC.

You may have noticed.

But this weekend, an unrelated article in the Sunday New York Times has brought forth yet another question:

Why did the family name change from Buckman — in the 1989 origin film — to Braverman in the TV series?

I’ve done some research, and apparently I’m not the first to ask this question, but for decidedly different reasons.

Many viewers pointed out that “Braverman” is a surname of Jewish origin, but the Parenthood family is decidedly not so. Others surmised that “Buckman” sounded a bit too Midwestern — where the movie was located — and the name change was necessary to reflect the California setting.

Or was it a bit of an inside joke?

The Sunday New York Times article discussed the evolution of Doc Johnson Enterprises, the ‘first family of pleasure products.’ The family surname? Oh, it’s not Johnson; it’s Braverman. And it got me thinking…

Could one of television’s great family dramas have added this little Easter egg…just for giggles and grins?

Or maybe one of the creators is simply related to a Braverman, or it tested well…neither of which is as fun for me.

I only discovered the Masterpiece series — which recently began its third season on PBS — a couple of weeks ago.

Now I’m hooked.

Flash flooding yesterday in Chicago gave me the perfect excuse to binge watch seasons 1 and 2 on Amazon Prime Video. (PBS members can also watch past episodes on their local affiliate website.)

The saga of the Captain Ross Poldark and his family set in post-Revolutionary War Cornwall is wonderful costume drama. And Aidan Turner as Poldark? Well, let’s just say I finally have a reason to watch the Hobbit movies, too.

But tonight? I will be glued to the tube watching season 3 of Poldark.

As we enjoy the extended Labor Day weekend, this speech attributed to Coca Cola CEO Bryan G. Dyson bears repeating:

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit, and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls –- Family, Health, Friends and Spirit -– are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it.

Work efficiently during office hours and leave on time. Give the required time to your family, friends and have proper rest.

My favorite subject in college had nothing to do with my communications major.

I took Astronomy 101 and 102 to avoid the chemistry sequence that my BS degree required. I will always be grateful to the University of Kentucky for this ‘broadening of my horizons,’ because it introduced me to Professor Thomas Troland.

Dr. Troland was one of the best teachers I have ever had. His sense of humor made his classes zip by, and made me a true fan of astronomy, a subject I had little knowledge of prior to college.

If you are interested in the upcoming total eclipse of the sun, I encourage you to give a look-see to this UK news story featuring Dr. Troland, who I am proud to say is a good friend to this day.